Pain While Having Sex During Menopause: What Is The Reason?

Lisiana Carter

Q: I am not interested in having sex with my husband but I have to do it because he wants me to do. I feel lots of pain, what should I do now?

Expert Answer

The idea of pain in menopausal women during sexual intercourse is one that their partners need to come to terms with, in an effort to understand their women and thus control their sexual expectations during this period. As a result of this pain, most women have suffered strained relationships, and others feeling too embarrassed to seek help. Menopause is a natural process for women, and thanks to technological advancement, there are remedies to addressing sexual pain, making life rather bearable.

What Causes Painful Sex in Women?

Painful sex in menopausal women is a reality which is attributed to a number of causes, some of which are discussed here:

The production of estrogen hormone reduces* significantly during menopause. This hormone is usually facilitative of the flow of blood to the vagina. When an imbalance in its supply develops, the supply of blood to the vaginal tissues also reduces*. In the end, lower estrogen levels and low flow of blood results in vaginal dryness. Unless recommended and approved treatments are made use of, it becomes almost impossible for a sexual partner to comfortably penetrate, and such efforts can only but cause physical pain and agony in the woman

Reduced* levels of estrogen and testosterone hormones may also bring about the tightening or thinning of tissues in the vagina. As the male partners try to penetrate during intercourse, this thinning, coupled with poor lubrication, causes immense pain for the woman. The situation can even get worse, when burning sensations and a feeling of soreness creeps in around the vagina. Forcing one’s way into the vagina during sex may cause inflammation and the wear and tear of the various tissues while making love. More than 15% of women going through menopause, and close to 50% of their population, go through this ordeal over the various stages of menopause

Even in the early stages of menopause, otherwise known as the transition period, women may start exhibiting reduced* libido, which is usually accompanied by very low response to touch, making it more difficult to be sexually aroused. And since there are psychological implications on the woman during menopause, the body and the mind may naturally refuse to give in to sexual desires. In the end, a partner may simply be forcing his way out, and by so doing inflict unbearable pain for the woman

Hormonal Changes Such as Estrogen

Estrogen, among other hormones like progestogen and testosterone, are produced in very low amounts during the transition period into menopause, all the way to Postmenopause. It is this dwindling that ultimately stops the monthly cycles in women, bringing them into a permanent state of infertility, rendering them unable to further bear children. In addition, this hormonal imbalance drastically affects the female sexual drive and functioning, subjecting them to painful sexual moments as vaginal tissues become thin and blood supply reduces*.

Effects on Vagina During Menopause Treatments

Menopause treatments may include estrogen therapy, and use of other recommended treatments depending on an individual medical history. Whichever way, the treatments are geared to increase* Vaginal pH, boost* the flow of vaginal fluid and vaginal blood.

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Lisiana Carter has been a freelance health writer for over ten years having written books, blogs and articles. She is the author of a number of websites and teaches people how to enter the freelance writing field.